Flirting is part of human nature and is not in and of itself sexual harassment. Men flirt and women flirt. If someone flirts with you and you respond by flirting back, it is a two-way street and not sexual harassment. If the flirting is unwanted and you do not return it in kind, most of the time it stops there. But when you have not returned it and the flirting continues, it may be sexual harassment.
"Do not mince words or try to spare his feelings. More often than not, he will backpedal..."
As offensive as the behavior may be to you, some people do not readily pick up on the fact that by not responding you do not want more of their attention. At this point it is necessary to tell the individual directly that you do not appreciate the flirting and would like it to stop.
Comments
Part-Time-Commander
I’ve always believed that the offended person should give the other person a chance to correct their behavior before they make a formal complaint. In many cases, the person might not even know they are harassing you.
You make some great points, Jo. Thanks for posting this article.
Chuck